A MIND SET

For Thursday's Mentoring Session, we have all been tasked with a problem solving exercise:

PROBLEM SOLVING
In the past we have "tolerated" certain unacceptable behaviors in each of our dogs. For this session, those behaviors will not be tolerated.
Does this mean that problems will be solved at the end of the session?  No.
But this will be our underlying mind set.


Please come with a plan and a no-nonsense approach to a solution.
Plan in advance how you intend to change your training agenda to convey this message to your dog
(or someone else's dog, since we will be handling each others dogs).
I want you to think decisively and affirmatively as you plan.

The three of you have discussed "manners" of your dogs as a "missing link".
Sue's explanation of vested vs non-vested work addressed "manners".
This session we are going to tie it all together and get started.
Think Sue's analogy of a 10-year old boy.

Lily's "unacceptable behavior" is her inability to keep a loose leash when being handled by someone else when I am in the vicinity.  Her focus is on me.  I am the single focal point that cannot be resisted.

So I want to review Leash and Zen, the ultimate self control behaviors, to re-mind (re-teach, re-view) Lily that it is HER job to remember that when the leash is on, the leash remains loose.


This addresses the behavior.  But it does not address my mind set.  Sue would say, "Don't settle".  I have been settling.  Last Thursday I asked Jan to please bring Lily into class while I dealt with Landry.  We were long in the class before Jan arrived with Lily on a loose leash.  That is unacceptable.  End of story.  So that is the "unaccptable behavior" that I am going to bring to the mentoring session.


This is Part 1 of my plan.  Training.  LEASH: Level 2: Steps 3 and 4 from Sue's Clinic Handout.  ZEN: Level 4: Step 4 from the new book.


ZEN.  ZEN.  Then more ZEN.

Step 4: c)

"there is nothing but training in between the dog and the treat"

We have practiced this on leash and off.  Now there are multiple focal points using Lily's highest value training treats.  From here we will move up to hot dogs, cheese and other irresistibles.  Shayla is eating from her bowl in the background and then, ignores my admonition and helps herself to desert.

There are 3 treats.  I make it more challenging adding Sit Down and Roll beside and once over the treat.  But Lily knows a training "set up" when she sees one.  That's OK.  We have to begin someplace.

And it's not as easy for her as you might think.  She is drooling big time.

Then add some challenging ZEN for continued practice in self control.  It's all about self control on Lily's part and expecting nothing less on my part.

ZEN: Level 4 (new book): Step 4

"Dog stays off a treat that the trainer drops. The cue is not given until AFTER the treat starts to drop."

This will require an immediate response - sometimes in mid-snap. My picture of the perfect performance would involve me tossing a treat at Stitch, then softly saying Leave It before it reaches her. She closes her mouth, and the treat hits her in the snoot. Sweet!

The next component will be adding the leash and combining these skills with basic Loose Leash Walking AND Service Dog Walking.


And maintaining my "Don't settle" mind set.  THIS is the key.